When Wars will be No More

While wars and other conflicts exist in many countries today, there is a place that God has promised to His nation where wars are no more.
THE SUN DID SET ON that epochal 9 / 11 but it did not see the end of terror and violence. Violence resurfaced and continues to lurk in varying scales in some other countries – in Spain, Iraq, Indonesia, UK, India, Afghanistan, Israel, Lebanon, Sudan, to name a few.

The repugnant results of conflicts, the dissolution of which remains to be a dream of nations, are unspeakable, to say the least. Terrorism, for one, has derailed the economic growth of many nations. Those who escaped violence in the form of wars, atrocities, and murder are left in outrage if not total shock over their grueling experiences. The rest of us who “peek” at the senseless violence in various parts of the world through TV newscasts or webcasts – some in real time or as they happen – could not help but be affected by the sight of the victims and the displaced, weeping at their misfortune.

Furthermore, others have lost their own peace of mind because their lives are but a day-to-day struggle against the worsening economic crisis, aggravated by the calamities and disasters that bring more miseries to their lives. Corruption and injustice also worsen these tragedies to individual and familial levels. These problems of humanity cannot be consigned to history. For now.

Questioning God’s purpose
Because of these, people look for someone to put the blame on as they yearn for peace. The sad part of it is that, there are those who blame God, wondering why He allows such things to happen.

Some people today have profound questions to God that had also been asked in the past:

“Why do you make me see such trouble? How can you stand to look on such wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are all around me, and there is fighting and quarreling everywhere. The law is weak and useless, and justice is never done. Evil men get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted.” (Hab. 1:3-4, Today’s English Version)

Injustice, destruction, violence, and troubles are also the realities in many countries today. Though many people unequivocally condemn acts of senseless violence and atrocities, the condition of the world today remains basically the same as that during the time of the prophet Habakkuk:

“Their armies advance in violent conquest, and everyone is terrified as they approach. Their captives are as numerous as grains of sand.

“Then they sweep on like the wind and are gone, these men whose power is their god.

“But how can you stand these treacherous, evil men? Your eyes are too holy to look at evil, and you cannot stand the sight of people doing wrong. So why are you silent while they destroy people who are more righteous than they are?” (Hab. 1:9, 11, 13, Ibid.)

Today, there are also ruthless individuals, terrorists, and even bandits who hold people captive, kidnap them as hostages and then, demand for a lofty amount as ransom. Kidnapping, abhorrent as it is, “has become a big business in many countries” as “kidnappers globally take home well over $500 million each year, and the figure is rising” (FP Foreign Policy magazine, July / August 2002, p. 29).

Who should be blamed?Is God the one to be blamed for all the lawlessness and the sufferings prevailing in this world today? No. It has always been the intention of God to bestow on man not only what is good but also what is best for him. This is why God set a condition for man to attain such blessing from Him, that is, man should walk in and follow the way that He teaches:

“… I am the LORD your God, the one who wants to teach you for your own good and direct you in the way you should go.” (Isa. 48:17, TEV)

Blessings and successes are what God intends for man on the condition that he should listen to and obey His commands:

“If only you had listened to my commands! Then blessings would have flowed for you like a stream that never goes dry. Victory would have come to you like the waves that roll on the shore.” (Isa. 48:18, Ibid.)

Many people of this world, however, disobey God’s commands, instead of satisfying this condition set by Him. That is why even if God wants the best for mankind, what has befallen mankind are sufferings in this world. God is not to blame for the present problems of this world. God says:

“But I did command them to obey me, so that I would be their God and they would be my people. And I told them to live the way I had commanded them, so that things would go well for them.

“But they did not obey or pay any attention. Instead, they did whatever their stubborn and evil hearts told them to do, and they became worse instead of better.” (Jer. 7:23-24, Ibid.)

Many people do what their hearts desire by wallowing in wickedness instead of obeying what God wants them to do. So, things have not been well with them. If someone is to be blamed for the atrocities and sufferings pervading in this world, it is none other than man himself.

Panacea or an aggravating factor?Others may not reconcile the verses we have just cited with the fact that there are many religions and “religious” people today. But, has the increase in the number of religions helped in the improvement of people’s lives and in the attainment of peace? The Bible enlightens:

“The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” (Isa. 59:8, New King James Version)

God, through the Bible, describes the religions established by the people of this world as “crooked paths”. These brought injustice and disorder to mankind instead of peace and goodness. Hence, the rise of these religions is one of the causes of man’s sufferings.

Also, despite these religions, many people remain wicked and disobedient to God’s laws. This resulted in many terrible disasters, difficulties, and destruction for the people of this world. He said:

“When that happens, I will become angry with them; I will abandon them, and they will be destroyed. Many terrible disasters will come upon them, and then they will realize that these things are happening to them because I, their God, am no longer with them.” (Deut. 31:17, TEV)

A hope for peaceThe good news is, despite this terrible condition of the world today, God promised to grant peace:

“The LORD gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace” (Ps. 29:11, Ibid.)

The ones to whom God will give peace are the people of His nation. In the Christian era, the nation of God where peace is found is the “body” referred to by Apostle Paul when he declared: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15, NKJV). The one body wherein the peace of God is found is the Church headed by Christ (Col. 1:18, Ibid.). This Church is described by Apostle Peter as God’s “nation, His own special people” who “obtained [His] mercy” (I Pet. 2:9-10, Ibid.). The apostle was referring to the one “redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18-19, Ibid.), that is, the Church of Christ (Acts. 20:28, Lamsa Translation).

But, in the first place, why should people be at peace with God through Christ? Apostle Paul teaches:

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

“And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Col. 1:21:-22, 20, NKJV)

People need to have peace with God because they have been separated from Him and have become His enemy because of their sins. Fortunately, Christ suffered and died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. But, for whom did Christ offer His life? For the Church, which is His body as stated by Apostle Paul:

“… Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” (Eph. 5:25, TEV)

Indeed, it is the Church of Christ that was redeemed by Christ’s precious blood:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

In short, above worldly concerns, man should strive to enter the true Church, the nation of God in the Christian era, to attain peace with God or to be brought near to Him. Let us not forget that the true cause of people’s misfortunes is that God is “no longer with them” (Deut. 31:17, TEV).

Wars will be no more
While wars and other conflicts exist in many countries today, there is a place that God has promised to His nation where wars are no more:

“… Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.” (Isa. 2:4. Ibid.)

That place where violence and mourning will be no more is the Holy City, described in the following prophecies:

“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise. … And the days of your mourning shall be ended.” (Isa. 60:18, 20, NKJV)

There will be no injustice and oppression in that land promised by God:

“Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be done. Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security forever.” (Isa. 32:16-17, TEV)

That land promised by God for His people is a land of rejoicing:

“Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy, and her people will be happy.

“I myself will be filled with joy because of Jerusalem and her people. There will be no weeping there, no calling for help.

“The LORD says, ‘I am making a new earth and new heavens. The events of the past will be completely forgotten’.” (Isa. 65:18-19, 17, Ibid.)

While still sojourning in this earth where living dangerously is a daily reality, the people of God continue to be assured of His protection as long as they follow His laws:

“Those who love your law have perfect security, and there is nothing that can make them fall.” (Ps. 119:165, Ibid.)

“… He [God] protects me and saves me from violence.

“The waves of death were all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me … In my trouble I called to the LORD; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.” (II Sam. 22:3, 5, 7, Ibid.)

In these times of dangers and troubles, the worship of God by His people and praying inside the house of worship are even more relevant because He promised: “… in this place [temple] I will give peace” (Hag. 2:9, NKJV). And, whenever His people are filled with sorrows, they direct their thoughts and set their vision on the promised Holy City, then, move on.

THE ORIGIN OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST's ALLEGED DEITY

Thinking that the belief that Christ is God is the original Christian
teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, many people suppose that the
Iglesia Ni Cristo only invented the teaching that Christ is man and not God.
Is this really so? What is the original belief of the early Christians
concerning Jesus Christ?

What the Bible teaches about Christ

To shed light on this subject, we will trace the origin of the doctrine of
Christ's alleged deity. But first, we must be reminded of what the Bible
teaches concerning the true nature of Christ. The Lord Jesus introduced
Himself thus:

"But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I
heard from God; this is not what Abraham did." (Jn. 8:40, Revised Standard
Version)

Christ clearly stated that He is a man who has told the truth which He
heard from God. That there is God from whom Christ heard the truth is
another proof that Christ is different from God.

Christ's teaching about His nature is what the apostles affirmed. Apostle
Paul taught:

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ
Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5, New King James Version)

The only Mediator between God and men is a man and not another God. Apostle
Peter and Apostle Matthew taught that Christ is man. Peter declared that
Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested by God ( Acts 2:22, Ibid.). That Christ
is conceived and born of a woman is expressly stated in the Gospel of Christ
according to Matthew (Mt. 1:18:20). Therefore, the claim that Christ is God
contradicts what the apostles taught. Likewise, to introduce Christ as God
contradicts the very statement of God that He is neither man nor a son of
man (Num. 23:19). God neither allows Himself to be both God and man, nor
does He allow man to be both man and God (Ezek. 23:2; Hos. 11:9).

Thus, the original teaching concerning Christ as recorded in the Bible is
that He is man.


The early warning

It is not surprising that there exists today teachings about Christ that
differ from the teachings of Christ and His apostles. As early as their
time, the apostles warned about the possible deviation from the original
teaching concerning Christ. Apostle Paul said:

"I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon
your full and pure devotion to Christ - in the same way that Eve was
deceived by the snake's clever lies. For you gladly tolerate anyone who
comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and
you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and
the gospel you received from us!" (II Cor. 11:3-4, Today's English Version)

Those, therefore, who teach and believe in Christ's deity are like those
who gladly accepted a "different Jesus" during the time of the apostles.
Apostle Paul called such teaching a different gospel, one that is
unscriptural.

The apostles, who were entrusted to teach the pristine teachings of Christ,
rebuked those who refused to accept that Christ is man:

"Watch out for the false leaders - and there are many of them around - who
don't believe that Jesus Christ came to earth as a human being with a body
like ours. Such people are against the truth and against Christ." (II Jn.
1:7, Living Bible)

During the time of the apostles, there were people who were easily taken
away from the true teaching taught by Christ and His apostles. They denied
the humanity of Jesus Christ. According to Apostle John, these people are
against the truth and against Christ - or anti-Christ (Jn. 1:7, NKJV).
Bible commentators also have noticed this:

"When we read Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, it becomes clear that
many problems faced the church within its own membership.

"Paul's other letters also reveal controversies and power-struggles in the
midst of encouragement and growth...Some people tried to mix Christian and
non-Christian religious beliefs. The first letter of John speaks of those
who once belonged to the Christian community but had now departed. They
denied the true humanity of Jesus Christ." (Handbook to the History of
Christianity, p 73)

While some apostles were still alive, some Christians departed from the
truth by denying the humanity of Jesus Christ. Thus, Apostle John in his
letter addressed these people. He gave a warning to the Christians, lest
they would be misled (II Jn. 1:7).



The formalization of the dogma

The apostles tried as much as they could to ward off the false teaching
about Christ in its inception. But after their demise, the altered doctrine
about the true nature of Christ proliferated. In fact, observers have
noticed many other developments in the history of the Church. In his book,A
Concise History of the Catholic Church, Thomas Bokenkotter said:

"Like its workship, the faith of the Church underwent some development,
and, in fact, its chief dogma, beliefin the divinity of Jesus Christ, was
not defined until the Council of Nicaea in 325." (pp. 58-59)

The doctrine on the deity of Christ was defined only when the Council of
Nicaea convened in the fourth century - over 200 years after the Bible had
been completed; all the apostles were already dead at that time. Even prior
to the formalization of the Christ-is-God doctrine, there were people
already upholding this doctrine. Ignatius of Antioch was found to have
written on this issue:

"The earliest time known at which Jesus was deified was, after the New
Testament writers, in the letters of Ignatius, at the beginning of the
second century." (Systematic Theology, p. 305)

Hence, the teaching that Christ is God did not originate from the apostles.
This started to be formally taught only after the Bible had already been
completed and when all the apostles of Christ were already dead. The warning
of Apostle Paul ( II Cor. 11:3:4) concerning the teaching of a different
Jesus, thus, started to be realized.



The point of conflict

The doctrine of Christ's deity is simply not apostolic. No wonder it has
become a point of countless debates and arguments from the time of its
inception until now. After the time of the apostles, Arius, a presbyter from
Alexandria was among those who rejected this dogma:

"The problem of the relationship between God the Father and His Son Jesus
Christ became an acute problem in the Church soon after te cessation of
persecution. In Western Europe, Tertullian, for example, insisted upon the
unity of essence in three personalities as the correct interpretation of the
Trinity. Hence the dispute centered in the eastern section of the Empire. It
must be remembered that the [Catholic] Church has always had to fight
Unitarian conceptions of Christ...

"In 318 or 319, Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, discussed with his
presbyters 'The Unity of the Trinity', One of the presbyters, Arius, an
ascetic scholar and popular preacher, attacked the sermon because he
believed that it failed to uphold a distinction among the persons n the
Godhead ... Arius, who was backed by Eusebius of Nicomedia ( to be
distinguished from Eusebius of Caesarea) and a minority of those present,
insisted that Christ had not existed from all eternity but had a beginning
by the creative act of God prior to time. He believed that Christ was of a
different ( heteros) essence or substance than the Father. Because of the
virtue of His life and His obedience to God's will, Christ was to be
considered divine. But Arius believed that Christ was a being, created out
of nothing, subordinate to the Father and of a different esssence from the
Father. He was not coequal, coeternal or cosubstantial with the Father. To
Arius He was divine but not deity." (Christianity Through the Centuries, pp.
142-143)

Take note that Arius lived in the fourth century. Thus, the teaching that
Christ is God was debated upon and remained unacceptable to some even up to
the fourth century. Such acute dispute was seen to be a potential problem
that could cause animosity and division among the officials of the Catholic
Church. This was seen also as a grave threat to the unity of the empire.
When the dispute became so intense, drastic action was taken:

"The controversy became so bitter that Alexander had Arius condemned by a
synod. Arius fled to the friendly palace of Eusebius, the bishop of
Nicomedia... Since the dispute centered in Asia Minor, it threatened the
unity of the Empire as well as that of the Church." (Ibid., p. 143)



Catholic council fails to resolve the dispute

When the controversy regarding the nature of Christ became serious, the
unity of the empire and of the Catholic Church was threatened. Because of
this, the emperor stepped into the scene to settle the dispute:

"The emperor therefore stepped into the controversy and extended
invitations for a great council to be held at Nicaea (325)." ( A Short
History of Christian Doctrine, p. 51)

The emperor's intervention over this doctrinal dispute was simply not
right. How could an emperor who knew nothing of theological issues being
discussed solve such a delicate problem? Thus, Lohse further comments:

"The first emperor to become a Christian, Constantine had basically no
understanding whatsoever of the questions that were being asked in Greek
theology. In the controversy over the doctrine of Trinity he saw nothing
more than unnecessary bickering of theologians, which might best be avoided
by eschewing all speculation and by living together in love and harmony. At
the same time Constantine was concerned about keeping or restoring
ecclesiastiacl peace. After all, the church had an important service to
perform in his empire." (Ibid.)

Constantine was only concerned about keeping or restoring peace and unity
and the important role that the Catholic Church would have in his empire.
Thus, whether or not the disputing officials of the church agree on Christ's
alleged deity of on His humanity was of no bearing to Constantine as long as
they would settle to only one stand that could promote unity. So, what did
Constantine do to influence the bishops who convened so that his interests
and wishes would be served well? Lohse records:

"For the first time in its history, Christianity in the Roman Empire was no
longer the persecuted religion ...From a pure external point of view the
change in the situation was evident to the bishops in the fact that they no
longer needed to move about secretly nor did they have to use the normal
means of travel to visit one another. They now had the privilege of coming
to the council by means of transportation provided by the state, i.e., means
which were intended for use by ranking state officials. At Nicaea the
emperor provided lodging for the bishops in his palace. It was there, too,
that the discussions took place, and in the presence of the emperor at
that... It is understandable if the bishops showed their gratitude by
generous effort to oblige the emperor.

"In the course of the long discussions which now took place at Nicaea the
emperor intervened personally several times." (Ibid., pp. 51-52)

The hospitable granted to the bishops by no less than the emperor himself
was enough to influence their decision on the issue. In fact, they could not
help but yield to the demands of the emperor as an expression of their
gratitude for all the favors they had enjoyed during the meeting. Thus, when
the decision was to be called for, it was the emperor's will that prevailed:

"The Council could not agree and after two years, impatient at the delay,
the Emperor Constantine appeared and addressed the assembly, ordering them
to agree on the divinity of Christ( how could the emperor claim divinity if
the Savior's was denied?)." (Challenge of a Liberal Faith, p. 60)

Finally, in 325 A.D, the council concluded with the decision in response to
the order of the emperor. From then on, Christ has been recognized by the
Catholic Church as God:

"Thus, for example, it was not until 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea,
that the Church defined for us that it was an article of faith that Jesus is
truly God." (Discourses on the Apostles' Creed, p. 206)

The issue on what the Catholic Church, the official religion of the Roman
Empire, must stand for concerning Christ might had been settled, but the
disputes and arguments over the issue on Christ's alleged deity did not
stop. Rather, the council was hit by more serious attacks. Louis Berkhof has
this to say:

"The Council of Nicaea was convened in A.D. 325 to settle the dispute...
the decision of the Council did not terminate the controversy, but was
rather only the beginning of it. A settlement forced upon the Church by the
strong hand of the emperor could not satisfy and was also of uncertain
duration. It made the determination of the Christian faith dependent on
imperial caprice and even on court intrigues." (The History of Christian
Doctrines, p. 86-87)

It has now become obvious that what Catholics and Protestants uphold
concerning Christ's deity is an unsettled controversy. Christ did not teach
this teaching - neither did His apostles. Thus, this teaching must be
rejected. Moreover, those who recite the Nicene Creed, also known as the
Apostles' Creed, that contains the declaration of an erroneous faith
concerning the nature of Christ must be reminded of this:

"The Council of Nicaea set many precedents. The Emperor called it,
influenced its decision-making and used his civil power to give its decrees
virtually the status of imperial law. The Council introduced a new kind of
orthodoxy, which for the first time gave non-biblical terms critical
importance. The Creed's own form of expression was influenced by the heresy
it outlawed...

"Nicaea was followed by more than half a century of discord and disorder in
the Eastern church, which at times spilled over into the west." (Handbook to
the History of Christianity, p. 160)

The teaching on Christ's deity is not the original teaching, rather it is a
man-made doctrine and, thus, is worthless in the sight of God (Mt. 15:9).



What the apostles admonish

Having been forewarned of the surge of false teachers who would teach a
false Jesus, Iglesia Ni Cristo members are so vigilant that they may not be
led astray. Apostle Paul admonishes us:

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to
you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." (II Thess. 2:15, NIV)

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes that its teaching concerning the
nature of Christ - that He is man - is the very teaching that the apostles
had taught. This is the original doctrine upheld by the early Christians,
not the dogma formulated by the bishops of the Catholic Church and
formalized at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. For the members of the
Iglesia Ni Cristo, nothing can be more important than to uphold the true
words of God that serve as a firm foundation upon which every Iglesia Ni
Cristo member is anchored. Such is the characteristic that they should
possess for them to become firm and steadfast:

"Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about
by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who led others
into errors by the tricks they invent." (Eph. 4:14, TEV)


References

Berkhof, Louis. The History of Christian Doctrines. Michigan: Baker Book
House, 1937.

Bokenkotter, Thomas. A Concise History of the Catholic Church. New York: An
Image Book Doubleday, n.d.

Cairns, Earle E. Christianity Through the Centuries. Michigan: Zondervan
Publishing House 1967.

Crock, Rev. Clement H. Discourses on the Apostles' Creed. New York: Joseph
F. Wagner, 1938.

Dowley, Tim. Eerdman's Handbook to the History of Christianity. England:
Lion Publishing, 1977.

Lohse, Bernhard. Translated by F. Ernest Stoeffler. A Short History of
Christian Doctrine. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966.

Strong, Augustus Hopkins. Systematic Theology. Philadelphia: The Judson
Press, 1907.

UGAT NG KAWALAN NG HANAPBUHAY

Sa sa mga ipinagmamalaki nating pangunahing katangian ng ating ekonomiya ang maraming Pilipino na bihasa sa Ingles at kaalaman sa iba’t ibang trabaho. Ito ang naging daan sa tagumpay ng industriya ng business process outsourcing (BPO), lalo na ang mga call center. Kung gayon, bakit hanggang ngayon ay malaki ang ating suliranin sa hanapbuhay? Mahigit 2.8 milyon ang walang trabaho sa ngayon.

Tinataya ng World Bank na 10 milyong Pilipino ang walang trabaho o hindi sapat ang hanapbuhay sa kasalukuyan. Batay sa isang milyong Pilipino na nadaragdag sa labor force taon-taon, kailangang makalikha ng 14.6 milyong trabaho hanggang 2016. Umaabot sa kalahating milyon ang nagtatapos sa kolehiyo at unibersidad bawa’t taon, ngunit maraming kumpanya ang nahihirapang makakuha ng kailangan nilang empleyado. Sa industriya ng BPO, halimbawa, isa lamang sa bawa’t sampung aplikante ang natatanggap.

Ang ugat ng suliranin ay ang hindi pagkakatugma ng mga kursong iniaalok ng mga paaralan sa pangangailangan ng mga industriya at negosyo. Sa madaling sabi, mali ang kurso. Kailangan natin ang masusing pag-aaral upang maituwid ang ganitong sitwasyon. Dapat matukoy sa nasabing pag-aaral kung anong uri ng mga hanapbuhay ang mangangailangan ng tao sa malapit na hinaharap, hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi maging sa ibang bansa, yayamang hindi naman natin mapipigilan ang ating mga kababayan na nagnanais mangibang-bayan.

Sa panig naman ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad, dapat maging mabilis sa pagbabago ng kanilang mga kurso upang maiangkop sa pangangailangan ng mga industriya at negosyo. Maganda ang ginawang pagbabawal ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) sa pagbubukas ng mga bagong programa sa ilang mga kurso gaya ng business administration, nursing, teacher education, hotel and restaurant management, and information technology education, na nagkabisa sa school year 2011-2012.

Naniniwala ako na ito’y magandang hakbang sa tamang direksiyon at makatutulong upang maibsan ang hindi pagkakaangkop ng edukasyon sa pangangailangan.

(Durugtungan)

                                    

                                          --by ROBERT--

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

LIFE NOWADAYS is full of problems, hardships, and difficulties. Many people today cannot fully satisfy their basic needs, as many are not properly fed, clothed, sheltered, and educated. Though they aspire for things that could give them a sense of security and contentment, such as what is commonly considered as the “good things in life,” not many enjoy such things.

This failure to live a worry-free life has brought much frustration and unhappiness to many. Hence, the pursuit of happiness remains to be the focus of many people in their lives. The Declaration of Independence of the United States (July 4, 1776) qualifies “the pursuit of happiness” as one of the “unalienable rights” of people.

In our time, scholars who are seeking to understand happiness more, and finding ways to lift its level, have been searching on this problem: What makes people happy? Sifting through their data (for their study in 2002), psychologists Diener and Seligman of the University of Illinois “found that the most salient charactereristics shared by the 10% of students with the highest levels of happiness and the fewest signs of depression were their strong ties to friends and family, and commitment to spending time with them” (Claudia Wallis, “The New Science of Happiness,” Time, February 28, 2005, p. 33).

Other data unearthed by positive psychologists show that “performing acts of altruism or kindness … connecting with other people seems to be the most fundamental finding from the science of happiness” (Ibid., p. 36).

Furthermore, on the question, “Does wealth make people happy?” research has shown that “once your basic needs are met, additional income does little to raise your sense of satisfaction with life. … neither education nor, for that matter, a high IQ paves the road to happiness” (Ibid., p. 33), Research further shows that “there is much more to happiness than financial security” (Gregg Easterbook, “The Real Truth About Money,” Ibid., p. 41).

There are also studies on the planet’s happiest peoples done by other researchers. Interestingly, many poor countries ranked high in ratings. Dyland Evans, author of the book Emotion: The Science of Sentiment, concluded that “money doesn’t guarantee happiness” (Ibid.). In relation to this, author Gregg Easterbook quips, “we often gives us more social anxiety than satisfaction” (Ibid., p. 40).

Based on these researches, there are other steps to raising one’s level of happiness prescribed by scholars but these cannot guarantee a permanent one. What then will?

The happiness of
God’s people: a desired state
There is a state of happiness that God teaches and offers through the Bible. This is what His people desire to attain even though they are in the midst of suffering. The Psalmist articulates:

“Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps. 37:4, New King James Version)

The Bible teaches a desire state of happiness – to delight in the Lord – that is different from what is commonly known by the people of this world. Those who fulfill this will “rejoice in the Lord,” for they have received a blessing far greater than the things of this world:

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, …” (Isa. 61:10, Ibid.)

The people who can truly find delight in the Lord are those who have been clothed “with the garments of salvation” or have been promised with salvation. In the Christian Era, those who have been “clothed with the garments of salvation” are the ones who “were baptized into Christ [and] have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27, Ibid.). They “were all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13, Ibid.) which is the Church that belongs to and is headed by Christ (Col. 1:18).

The proof that those who were brought into this Church have been clothed with salvation was declared by Apostle Paul:

“For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body.” (Eph. 5:23, Today’s English Version)

This Church which Christ will save is the Church of Christ He redeemed with His precious blood:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.: (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Because of the promised salvation, members of the true Church of Christ can truly rejoice in the Lord even in the midst of troubles and difficulties in this world. Furthermore, trials and persecution do not cause them to despair because they rightly view such experience as “sharing Christ’s sufferings,” and they will “be full of joy when his [Christ’s] glory is revealed” on His Second Advent (I Pet. 4:13, TEV). For this, Apostle Peter exhorts them:

“Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ’s followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you. … if you suffer because you are a Christian, don’t be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ’s name.” (I Pet. 4:14, 16, Ibid.)

Facing anxities
While the true people of God also have their material needs in this world where economic problems are numerous and become more sever, they are not anxious about them. Instead, they always work hard and are being guided by Christ’s admonition:

“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, ‘Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?’ Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these.” (Matt. 6:31-32, Contemporary English Version)

Thus, members of the true Church should not worry even though there may be times when they lack some of the things they need in this life, because they can expect God and the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:24) to help them with the good things that they need in this life. As God’s servants, they believe that God will never forsake His people. King David, who himself experienced and had observed the manifestations of God’s loving-kindness, attested:

“I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” (Ps. 37:25, NKJV)

Thus, instead of worrying in the face of hardship, the true servants of God ought to have confidence and hope when it is their turn to be in trouble:

“Now it’s your turn to be in trouble, and you are too stunned to face it. You worshipped God, and your life was blameless; and so you should have confidence and hope. Think back now. Name a single case where a righteous man met with disaster.” (Job 4:5-7, TEV)

God’s people know that it is inevitable for them to experience great difficulties in this life but as long as they live righteously He will never forsake them.

Finding joy in obedienceGod’s people find joy in fulfilling His commandments:

“I am unimportant and despised, but I do not neglect your teachings.

“I am filled with trouble and anxiety, but your commandments bring me joy.” (Ps. 119:141, 143, TEV)

The faithful consider as their top priority obeying God’s commandments, happen what may. They know that in obedience, they would also have the love of God and Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ inspires them:

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. … that My joy may remain in you, and that our joy may be full.” (John 15:10-11, NKJV)

To love and to be loved by God and Christ is the greatest source of happiness. Hence, for true Christians, no problem is too big for a solution. After all, God’s love and power are much greater than all the combined problems in this life. Moreover, they have the Holy Spirit to comfort them, as promised by Christ:

“I will not leave you bereaved, I come unto you;

“And I will ask the Father, and another Comforter He will give to you, that he may remain with you – to the age; the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive …” (John 14:18, 16-17, Young’s Literal Translation)

Furthermore, God’s people do not seek comfort in worldly pleasure, because they know the “the world is passing away” (I John 2:17, NKJV – it will end soon and those who do evil will be destroyed (II Pet. 3:7-10). However, “he who does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:17, NKJV).

Hence, them members of the true Church ought to value most the great love that our God and our Lord Jesus Christ gave them and never exchange this for anything or anyone in this world. Such love is a “perfect” one as qualified by Apostle John (I John 4:17).

Towards eternal happiness
Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ promised eternal happiness to the members of His Church:

“I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn to gladness.

“.. Now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you.” (John 16:20, 22, TEV)

Where will this eternal happiness be experienced by God’s faithful servants, among whom are the true members of the Church of Christ today? God declares through the Bible:

“For behold, I create new heavens and new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.” (Isa. 65:17-19, NKJV)

Life in the new heaven and new earth is eternal and blissful – there will be no more sorrows there (Rev. 21:1-4). It is one that all of us must seek to attain. And because the hope of God’s people is anchored not on empty words but on the promise of the Almighty God, they, therefore, seek joy in His reassuring words while living in this world and looking forward to the attainment of eternal happiness.

Ang Ikakikilala Sa Bulaang Tagapangaral

LIBU-LIBO NA ANG bilang ng relihiyong nakatatag sa daigdig ngayon. Higit na marami kaysa rito ang bilang ng mga tagapangaral na ang lahat sa kanila ay nag-aangkin na sila ay tunay na sa Diyos. Ngunit, hindi maaaring lahat ay sa Diyos sapagkat ang kanilang mga aral ay magkakasalungat. Samakatuwid, ang maraming tagapangaral ay tiyak na mga bulaan.

Ang suliranin ng tao ngayon ay kung paano nila matitiyak kung sino ang tunay na mangangaral at kung sino ang bulaan. Nakataya sa wastong pagkilala sa kanila ang kaligtasan ng marami sa hatol ng Diyos.

Ayon kay Apostol Pedro, paano makikilala ang tunay na tagapangaral, tulad nila, sa kalipunan ng mga bulaan? Ganito ang kaniyang sagot:

“Ang ipinahayag naming sa inyo tungkol sa muling pagparito ng ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo, na puspos ng kapangyarihan, ay hindi sa mga alamat na katha lamang ng tao. Nasaksihan naming ang kanyang kadakilaan nang ipagkaloob sa kanya ng Diyos Ama ang karangalan at kapurihan…” (II Ped. 1:16-17, Magandang Balita)

Ang tunay na tagapangaral ay nagtuturo ng dalisay na aral ng Diyos at hindi nagsasalig sa mga “alamat na katha lamang ng tao.” Samantala, ang mga bulaang tagapangaral ay nagsasalig sa katha at sila’y mapanlinlang sapagkat nanghuhula sila ng kabulaanan. Ganito ang pahayag ni Ezekiel na propeta ukol sa mga tagapangaral na bulaan:

“At itinapal ng mga propeta niyaon ang masamang argamasa para sa kanila, na nakakita ng walang kabuluhan, at nanganghuhula ng mga kabulaanan sa kanila, na nangasabi, Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios, dangang hindi sinalita ng Panginoon.” (Ezek. 22:28)

Ang Mga Kinatuparan

Ang isa sa mga relihiyon na kinatuparan ng hula tungkol sa lilitaw na magtuturo ng kabulaanan ay ang Adventista. Hinulaan ni Guillermo Miller, isa sa mga naging lider ng kilusang Adventista sa America, ang petsa ng pagdating ni Jesucristo ngunit hindi nagkatotoo ang kaniyang hula. Ganito ang sinasabi sa aklat na Ang Malaking Tunggalian:

“Si Guillermo Miller, isang masipag at tapat na mag-aaral ng mga Banal na Kasulatan, ay siyang nanguna sa malaking Kilusang Adventista sa Estados Unidos ng Amerika. Ang mga nangungulo sa kilusang ito ay nangagkamali sa kanilang paniniwala na si Kristo’y paririto sa lupa noon Oktubre 22, 1844.” (pp. 301-302)

Gaya ng mga Adventista noong ika-19 na siglo,ang mga tagapangaral ng mga Saksi ni Jehovah, ay nabigo sa kanilang pag-asa nang sila ay manghula ng kabulaanan:

“So, there were great expectations concerning 1914 on the part of many of the Bible Students. Yet, they also had received sound admonition in pages of The Watch Tower. Indeed, some Christians thought they were ‘going home’ to heaven in the autumn of that year. ‘But,’ says C.J. Woodworth, ‘October 1st, 1914, came and went – and years accumulated after that date – and the anointed were still here on earth. Some grew sour and fell away from the truth. Those who put their trust in Jehovah saw 1914 as truly a marked time – the ‘beginning of the end’ – but they also realized their previous concept was wrong concerning the ‘glorification of the saints,’ as it was stated’,” ( 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, p. 74)

Sa Pilipino: 

“Kaya, nagkaroon ng malaking pag-asam ukol sa taong1914 sa panig ng marami sa mga nagsisipag-aral ng Biblia. Ngunit nakatanggap rin sila ng mabuting pagpapayo mula sa The Watch Tower. Tunay, inakala ng ilang mga Cristiano na sila’y ‘tutungo’ na sa langit sa taglagas ng taong yaon. ‘Ngunit,’ sabi ni C.J. Woodworth,’ ang Oktubre 1, 1914 ay dumating at umalis – at dumaan pa ang maraming taon pagkatapos ng petsang yaon – at ang mga pinahiran ay narito pa rin sa lupa. Ang ilan ay nawalan ng pananampalataya at humiwalay sa katotohanan. Itinuring niyaong mga nagsalig ng kanilang pagtitiwala kayJehova ang 1914 bilang tunay na tinandaang panahon – ang ‘simula ng wakas’ – ngunit napagtanto rin nila na ang kanilang nakaraang paniniwala ay mali tungkol sa ’pagpapaluwalhati sa mga banal,’ gaya ng pagkabanggit’.”

Dahil dito, hindi na natin maaaring ibilang na sa Diyos ang mga Adventista at mga Saksi ni Jehovah, kabilang na sila sa maling relihiyon sapagkat ang kanilang mga tagapangaral ay tagapagturong bulaan.



Iba Pang Ikakikilala Sa Bulaan

Ang isa pang tandang ikakikilala sa bulaang mangangaral at bulaang relihiyon ay binanggit ng ating Panginoong Jesucristo. Ganito ang sinabi niya sa Mateo 15:14:

“Hayaan ninyo sila. Sila’y mga bulag na tagaakay; at kapag bulag ang umakay sa bulag, kapwa sila mahuhulog sa hukay’.” (MB)

Ang mga bulaang tagapangaral ay mga bulag na tagaakay. Ang sinumang akayin ng mga ito ay mapapahamak lamang na tulad din ng mga tagapangaral nila. Ano ang ibig sabihin ng bulag na tagaakay? Ayon kayApostol Pablo:

“Ibig nilang maging guro ng kautusan gayong hindi nila nauunawaan ang kanilang sinasabi, ni ang mga bagay na itinuturo nila nang buong tiwala.” (1 Tim. 1:7, Ibid.)

Ang palatandaang ito ukol sa bulaang tagapangaral at relihiyon ay natupad naman sa Iglesia Katolika Romana. Inaamin ng mga awtoridad ng Iglesia Katolika na sila mismo na tagapangaral ay hindi nakauunawa! Ganito ang pahayag ni Rev. Andrew Greeley sa aklat na Your Teenager and Religion:

“The simple truth is that those of us who have the responsibility for teaching the real meaning of Christianity to the young have failed to convert it into language which has meaning in the contemporary world. We have not found the words which will stir young hearts. We have not found the modes of expression which will break through youthful apathy and indifference and fear. There may be all kinds of valid excuses for our failure, but the fact remains: when we speak about religion to young people they not know what we are talking about and really do not care to know. Perhaps the reason is that we do not know ourselves. This picture may be too black.” (pp. 13-14)

Sa Pilipino:

“Ang madaling unawaing katotohanan ay yaong ilan sa atin na may pananagutang ituro ang tunay na kahulugan ng Cristianismo sa mga kabataan ay nabigong isalin ito sa wikang may kahulugan sa pangkasalukuyang daigdig. Hindi pa natin natatagpuan ang paraan ng pananalita na mag-aalis sa pagwawalang-bahala at kalamigan ng loob at takot ng mga kabataan. Maaaring magkaroong lahat ng uri ng mga makatuwirang dahilan sa ating pagkabigo, ngunit mananatili ang katotohanan: kung tayo ay nagsasalita sa mga kabataan tungkol sa relihiyon hindi nila alam kung ano ang sinasabi natin at talagang wala silang pagpapahalagahang malaman. Marahil ang dahilan ay tayo rin mismo ang hindi nakakaalam. Ang paglalarawang ito ay maaaring napakaitim.”

Inaamin ng paring si Andrew Greeley na ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nila maipaunawa sa mga kabataan ang mga aral ng Iglesia Katolika ay sapagkat sila mismo ay hindi nakaaalam ng kanilang pananampalataya. Ano kaya ang dahilan at kapos sila sa pagkaunawa? Ganito ang sinasabi sa isa pang aklat ng Iglesia Katolika na sinulat ni Joseph Faa Di Runo:

“Moreover, a written Bible is a dead book. Nor is it an easy book, it does not explain itself.” (Catholic Belief, p. 4)

Sa Pilipino:

“Higit doon, and sinulat na Biblia ay isang patay na aklat. Ni hindi ito isang madaling unawaing aklat, hindi nito ipinaliliwanag ang kaniyang sarili.”

Paano nga makauunawa ng wastong pananampalataya ang mga paring Katoliko samantalang hindi nila nauunawaan ang mga nasusulat sa Biblia? Ang Biblia na kinaroroonan ng salita ng Diyos ay isa raw patay na aklat at hindi madaling unawain.

Ang totoo, ni hindi nauunawaan ng pari ang kaniyang ginagawa, halimbawa, sa panahon ng pagmimisa. Ganito ang pahayag sa aklat na The Restless Christian, sinulat ni Killian McDonnell, O.S.B., sa pahina 171:

“I did not fully understand what I did as I said Mass that day. I did not fully understand the power that is mine. I do not understand it now. It is a mystery…”

Sa Pilipino: 

“Hindi ko ganap na naunawaan ang ginawa ko sa aking pagsasagawa ng Misa sa araw na iyon. Hindi ko ganap na naunawaan ang kapangyarihan na aking taglay. Hindi ko ito nauunawaan ngayon. Ito’y isang hiwaga…”

Hindi lamang ang pagsasagawa ng Misa ang hindi nauunawaan ng mga pari. Maging ang kanilang pagtuturo ukol sa Diyos ay nababalot din ng maraming pagkakasalungatan. Ganito naman ang sinulat ng isang paring Jesuita na si Martin J. Scott sa kaniyang aklat na pinamagatang God and Myself, sa pahina 118-119:

“The Trinity is a wonderful mystery. No one understands it. The most learned theologian, the holiest Pope, the greatest saint, all are mystified by it as the child of seven. It is one of the things which we shall know only when we see God face to face….”

Sa Pilipino:

“Ang Trinidad ay isang kamangha-manghang misteryo. Walang sinumang nakauunawa nito. Ang pinakamarunong na teologo, ang pinakabanal na Papa, ang pinakadakilang santo, silang lahat ay nahihiwagaan dito tulad ng isang batang may pitong taong gulang. Isa ito sa mga bagay na malalaman lamang natin kapag nakita na natin ang Diyos nang mukhaan….”

Dahil dito, walang saysay na pag-aangkin ang ginawa ng mga tagapangaral na Katoliko kapag kanilang sinasabi na ang Iglesia Katolika ay sa Diyos. Kung ang Diyos mismo ay hindi nila nakikilala at nauunawaan, paano sila kikilalanin ng Diyos?

Hindi natin ito sinasabi sapagkat nais nating saktan ang damdamin ng maraming tao na ang nagisnan sa mundo ay ang aral ng Iglesia Katolika at iba pang relihiyon. Ang nais lamang ng mga ministro sa Iglesia ni Cristo ay makaiwas ang marami sa pagkadaya at pagkapahamak.

Ang Nakauunawa

Ang dapat na pakinggan ay ang tunay na nakauunawa ng salita ng Diyos sa ikaliligtas. Sinabi ng Panginoong Jesucristo ang ganito:

“Sa inyo ay ipinagkaloob ang makaalam ng hiwaga ng kaharian ng Dios: datapuwa’t sa kanilang nangasa labas, ang lahat ng mga bagay ay ginagawa sa pamamagitan ng mga talinghaga: Upang kung magsitingin sila’y mangakakita, at huwag mamalas; at kung mangakinig sila’y mangakarinig, at huwag mangakaunawa; baka sakaling sila’y magbalikloob, at patawarin sila.” (Mar. 4:11-12)

Kung gayon, may pinagkaloobang makaunawa ng salita ng Diyos. Hindi sila ang bulaan kundi mga tunay na mangangaral. Hindi sila “bulag na tagaakay” kundi nakauunawa at maghahatid sa tao sa kaligtasan at hindi sa hukay ng kapahamakan.

Hanapin natin ang mga tunay na tagapangaral upang makarating tayo sa Diyos, kay Cristo, at sa tunay na Iglesia upang tayo ay maligtas.

Katunayan nga ba ng pagiging Diyos ni Cristo?

Isang pagtalakay sa ilan pang talata ng Biblia na ginagamit na batayan ng mga nagsasabing si Cristo ang tunay na Diyos.

SA ARTIKULONG ITO ay susuriin natin ang ilan pa sa mga talata ng Biblia na ginagamit ng iba upang patunayang tama ang kanilang paniniwalang si Cristo ang tunay na Diyos. Sumasang-ayon kaya ang mga kinikilala nilang iskolar ng Biblia na ang mga talatang ito ay mapagbabatayan sa pagtuturong si Cristo ay Diyos?

I Juan 5:20
“At nalalaman natin na naparito ang Anak ng Dios, at tayo’y binigyan ng pagkaunawa, upang ating makilala siya na totoo, at tayo’y nasa kaniya na totoo, sa makatuwid ay sa kaniyang Anak na si Jesucristo. Ito ang tunay na Dios, at ang buhay na walang hanggan.”

Kung ang tatanungin ay ang mga iskolar ng Biblia na mula rin sa mga samahang panrelihiyon na nagtataguyod ng aral na si Cristo’y Diyos, ano kaya ang masasabi nila matapos nilang suriin ang talatang ito? Ganito ang patotoo ng isang komentarista at ministrong Protestante na si William Loader:

“3. [I Juan] 5:20-21. Pagkilala sa tunay na Diyos; pag-iwas sa idolatriya. Sa [manuskritong] Griyego ng 5:20 ay nakalagay lamang ang (isang) totoo at literal na mababasang: ‘nalalaman natin na naparito ang Anak ng Diyos, at tayo’y binigyan ng pagkaunawa’, upang ating makilala siya na (isang) totoo, at tayo’y nasa kaniya na (isang) totoo’, sa makatuwid ay sa kaniyang Anak na si Jesucristo. ‘Ito ang (isang) tunay na Diyos, at ang buhay na walang hanggan’. Malinaw dito na [sa buong sipi], ang (isang) totoo ay ang Diyos. Si Cristo ay ang kaniyang Anak. Sa huling pangungusap, ang (isang) ito ay natural lamang na tumutukoy pa rin sa Diyos, hindi kay Cristo, gaya ng iminumungkahi ng iba…” (The Johannine Epistle, p. 79.)¹*

Maliwanag na ayon kay William Loader, ang Ama, hindi si Cristo, ang tunay na Diyos na tinutukoy sa I Juan 5:20. Ang pahayag niyang ito ay kasang-ayon ng pagtuturo ni Cristo na ang Ama ang dapat makilala na iisang tunay na Diyos:

“At ito ang buhay na walang hanggan, na ikaw ay makilala nila na iisang Dios na tunay, at siyang iyong sinugo, sa makatuwid baga’y si Jesucristo.” (Juan 17:3)

I Juan 5:7“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” [Sapagkat may tatlong nagpapatotoo sa langit, ang Ama, ang Salita, at ang Espiritu Santo: at ang tatlong ito ay iisa.] (King James Version)

Ayon sa ibang mga nagtataguyod ng aral na si Cristo’y Diyos at ng doktrina ng Trinidad maliwanag daw sa talatang ito na ang Ama, ang Salita, at ang Espiritu Santo ay iisa. Ito raw ang katunayan na ang iisang Diyos ay may tatlong Persona at ang bawat persona ay tunay na Diyos. Si Cristo raw ang ikalawang persona, kaya, si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos.

Subalit dapat pansinin na walang sinasabi sa talatang ito na ang Diyos ay may tatlong persona. At lalong walang sinasabi na si Cristo ay Diyos.

Hindi lamang iyon, ang nilalaman ng I Juan 5:7 ng King James Version ay hindi mababasa o wala sa ibang salin ng Biblia. Napatunayan ng mga nagsuri na ang nakasaad sa talatang ito ay huwad – wala sa mga sinaunang manuskrito o sipi ng Biblia. Alinsunod sa iba pang nagsuri, ang nilalaman ng I Juan 5:7 sa King James Version ay idinagdag lamang noong ikalimang siglo. Tunghayan natin ang pahayag ng isang teologong Katoliko na si Hans Kűng:

“… Ang pinakamalinaw na patotoo, ang tanyag na Johannine Comma, na ipinagtanggol ng mga awtoridad Romano bilang tunay hanggang sa pagpasok ng panibagong siglo, na isang ‘pagdaragdag’ sa mga epistola ni Juan, tungkol sa Ama, Salita, at Espiritu, na iisa, ay karaniwan nang itinuturing ngayon bilang huwad (na nagmula sa Hilagang Aprika o España noong ikatlo o ikaapat na siglo).” (On Being a Christian, p. 472)²

Maging ang New Catholic Encyclopedia ay nagsasabing ang talatang ito ay hindi matatagpuan sa mga matatandang sulat-kamay na Griyego:

“Ang Comma (talata) ay wala sa lahat ng matatandang manuskritong Griyego ng BT [Bagong Tipan] maliban sa apat na bagu-bagong manuskrito na nasusulat mula ika-13 hanggang ika-16 na siglo. Ang Comma ay hindi kasama sa matatandang bersiyon sa Silangan tulad ng Peshitta, Philoxenian, Coptic, Ethiopic, at Armenian … Wala nang iskolar na tumatanggap na ito ay tunay.” (vol. 7, p. 1004)³

Malinaw na ang I Juan 5:7 ay hindi dapat ibigay na katunayan na si Cristo ay Diyos.

II Pedro 1:1“Si Simon Pedro, na alipin at apostol ni Jesucristo, sa nagsipagkamit na kasama namin ng mahalagang pananampalataya sa katuwiran ng ating Dios at Tagapagligtas na si Jesucristo.”

Sa talatang ito ay tinawag daw ni Apostol Pedro si Cristo na Diyos at Tagapagligtas. Ngunit tinaggihan ng isang iskolar ang ganitong pagkaunawa sapagkat ayon sa kaniyang pag-aaral, ang talatang ito ay katulad din ng nasa Tito 2:13 na dalawa ang tinutukoy. Tunghayan natin ang kaniyang paliwanag:

“Sumusunod, sa mga salitang, ng ating Diyos at [ating] Tagapagligtas na si Jesucristo, ay ipapakahulugan ko, tulad ng Tito 2:13 [ kung saan, tingnan ang nota] na ang ating Diyos ay tumutukoy sa Ama, at ang [ating] Tagapagligtas na si Jesucristo ay tumutukoy sa Anak. Dito ay may karagdagang konsiderasyon na pabor sa ganitong pananaw, na ang Dalawa ay maliwanag na magkaiba sa susunod na talata.” (The New Testament for English Readers, p. 1671)⁴

Ayon naman kay Karen Armstrong, na isang dating madre ng Iglesia Katolika, hindi tinawag ni Apostol Pedro si Cristo na Diyos. Tunghayan natin ang kaniyang pahayag:

“… Hindi ipinahayag ni Pedro na si Jesus na taga-Nazaret ay Diyos.Siya ay ‘tao, na pinatunayan ng Diyos sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng mga himala at tanda na ginawa ng Diyos sa pamamagitan niya nang siya ay nasa gitna ninyo’.” (A History of God, p. 107)⁵

Samakatuwid, inaamin maging ng mga naniniwala at dating naniniwala na si Cristo’y Diyos na ang II Pedro 1:1 ay hindi nagpapatunay sa kanilang pinaniniwalaan.

I Timoteo 3:16
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”[At walang pagtatalo, dakila ang hiwaga ng kabanalan: Ang Diyos ay nahayag sa laman, pinapaging-banal sa Espiritu, nakita ng mga anghel, ipinangaral sa mga Gentil, sinampalatayanan sa sanlibutan, tinanggap sa itaas sa kaluwalhatian.] (KJV)

Inuunawa ng iba ang talatang ito na si Cristo raw ay Diyos na nagkatawang-tao. Tama kaya ang pagkaunawang ito? Tunghayan natin ang pahayag ng mga nagsuri sa talatang ito. Ayon sa The International Bible Commentary, ang salitang “Diyos” sa mga katagang “Ang Diyos ay nahayag sa laman” na siyang pagkakaliwat sa King James Version ay mali. Ang dapat daw na ginamit ay ang panghalip na “Siya” sa halip na ang salitang “Diyos”:

“Ang panghalip na Siya kung saan ang himno ay nagsisimula, ay dapat unawaing tumutukoy kay Cristo. Ang pagbasang Griyego na pinagbabatayan ng salin sa AV [Authorized o King James Version] na ‘Diyos’ ay halos tiyak na mali …” (p. 1479)⁶

Ganito rin halos ang sinasabi sa iba’t ibang komentaryo ng Biblia:

“3:16 Ang pinakamatatandang tekstong Griyego ay nagsasaad ng ‘Siya’ sa halip na ‘Diyos’. Ang sumusunod na anim na parirala ay tila sinipi mula sa isang matandang himnong Cristiano …” (The Criswell Study Bible, footnote)⁷

“… Sa pinakamahuhusay na manuskrito ay mababasang ‘Siya’, na tumutukoy kay Cristo. Siya ay pinapaging-banal sa pamamagitan ng paraan ng paggawa sa kaniya ng Espiritu.” (The Westminster Study Edition of the Holy Bible, footnote)⁸

Malinaw sa maraming patotoo na sinipi natin mula sa mga iskolar ng Biblia na hindi dapat pagbatayan ang I Timoteo 3:16 sa paniniwalang si Cristo ay Diyos na nagkatawang-tao.

Ayon kay John Wycliffe, ang salitang “siya” sa I Timoteo 3:16 ay tumutukoy kay Cristo at ang salitang “laman” ay tumutukoy sa pagiging tao ni Cristo. Tunghayan natin ang kaniyang pahayag:

“… Ang konteksto ay malinaw na nagpapakita na ang tinutukoy ni Pablo ay si Cristo kapag sinasabi niyang: Siya na nahayag sa laman (ASV) [American Standard Version] … Lahat ng pangunahing salita ay nauulit sa ibang mga sulat ni Pablo. Laman. Madalas na binibigyang-diin ni Pablo ang pagkatao ni Cristo sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng salitang ito (Roma 1:3; 8:3; 9:5; Efe. 5:15; Col. 1:22; Heb. 5:7; 10:20)…” (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1375)⁹

Tunay na si Cristo ay nagtaglay ng mga katangiang di taglay ng ibang tao (Gawa 2:36; 5:31; I Tim. 2:5; Efe. 1:20-22; Filip. 2:9-11) subalit, nananatili ang katotohanang tao ang Kaniyang likas na kalagayan at hindi Siya ang tunay na Diyos (Juan 8:40; I Tim. 2:5; Mat. 1:20; Ose. 11:9; Ezek. 28:2). At gaya ng ating napatunayan sa ating pagsusuring ito, mismong mga iskolar na mula sa mga samahang nagtataguyod ng aral na si Cristo’y Diyos ang nagsasabing ang mga talatang diumano’y nagpapatunay sa pagiging-Diyos ni Cristo ay hindi sang-ayon sa Biblia at, kung gayon, ay hindi wastong gamiting batayan sa pagtuturo ng gayong maling paniniwala.

ENDNOTES:

¹“3. 5:20-21. Knowing the true God; avoiding idolatry. The Greek of 5:20 has only the true (one) and reads literally: ‘we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding’ so that we know the true (one) and we are in the true (one)’, in his Son Jesus Christ. ‘The (one) is the true God and eternal life.’ It is clear from this that ‘the true (one)’ is God throughout. Christ is his Son. In the final sentence this (one) most naturally refers still to God, not to Christ, as some have suggested.” (Loader, William. The Johannine Epistle. London: Epworth Press, 1992.)

² “… The clearest testimony, the famous Johannine Comma, defended as authentic by the Roman authorities up to the turn of the century, an ‘interpolation’ into the first epistle of John, about Father, Word and Spirit, who are one, is generally regarded today as a forgery (originating in North Africa or Spain in the third or fourth century.” (Kűng, Hans. On Being a Christian. New York. Pocket Books, 1976.)

³ “The Comma is absent in all the ancient Greek manuscripts of the NT with the exception of four rather recent manuscripts that date from the 13th to 16th centuries. The Comma is lacking in such ancient Oriental versions as the Peshitta, Philoxenian, Coptic, Ethiopic, and Armenian … No scholar any longer accepts its authenticity.” (New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 7. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America, 1967.)

⁴“Next, in the words, of our God and [our] Saviour Jesus Christ, I would interpret, as in Titus ii, 13 [where see note] our God of the Father, and [our] Saviour Jesus Christ of the Son. Here, there is the additional consideration in favour of this view, that the Two are distinguished most plainly in the next verse.” (The New Testament for English Readers, vol. 4. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1983.)

⁵ “… Peter did not claim that Jesus of Nazareth was God. He ‘was a man, commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you…” (Armstrong, Karen. A History of God. London: Mandarin Paperbacks, 1994.)

⁶ “By the pronoun He with which the hymn opens, is to be understood, Christ. The Greek reading which underlies the AV translation ‘God’ is almost certainly wrong …” (Bruce, F.F., General Editor. The International Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986.)

⁷ “3:16 The earliest Greek texts have ‘He’ rather than ‘God’. The six phrases which follow appear to be a quotation from an early Christian hymn…” (Criswell, W. A., Ph.D., ed. The Criswell Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Pubs., 1979.)

⁸ “… The best manuscripts read, ‘Who’, referring to Christ. He wasjustified by the way the Spirit worked in him.” (The Westminster Study Edition of the Holy Bible. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1968.)

⁹ “The context makes it plain that Paul is referring to Christ when he says:He who was manifest in the flesh (ASV) … All the leading words occur elsewhere in Paul’s writings. Flesh. Paul frequently emphasizes the humanity of Christ by the use of this word (Rom 1:3; 8:3; 9:5; Eph 5:15; Col 1:22; Heb 5:7; 10:20)…” (Pfeiffer, Charles F. and Everett F. Harrison, eds.The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1990.)

* NOTA: Lahat ng sinipi mula sa mga reperensiyang Ingles ay isinalin sa Filipino. Sadyang nilagyan ng diin ng may akda ang ilang bahagi ng mga siniping reperensiya.